Chicago outdoors: Packed weekend of shows, a flea market, workshops, seminars and fundraisers

For some reason, this has become the most option filled weekend of the winter season. I am not going to be able to make any of them. I am in Birmingham, Ala., for the 50th Bassmaster Classic. Actually I will make one of the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Lake Michigan fisheries workshops next week, just haven’t decided which one yet.

The Journal Sentinel Sports Show runs through Sunday, March 8, at the Wisconsin State Fair Park Exposition Center in West Allis, Wis.

The Midwest Musky Club’s Mega Raffle Fundraiser is Thursday, March 12, at the Village Sportsman’s Club in Alsip.

The Northern Illinois Boat Show opens Thursday and runs through Sunday, March 5-8, at the New Lake County Fair Grounds in Grayslake.

The Illinois Taxidermist Association convention, which I find utterly fascinating and I am sorry I cannot make, is Thursday through Sunday, March 5-8, at the Decatur Hotel & Conference Center.

I had planned to work a booth for Ron Wozny at the Indoor Fishing Flea Market on Saturday at Rolling Meadows High School, but then I realized I would not be around.

Art Malm will talk about dam removal on the Fox River Saturday at the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance’s Bronzeback Blowout at the Elmhurst American Legion.

A big-time fundraiser is the Fox River Valley chapter of Muskies Inc.’s annual banquet Saturday at the Schaumburg Golf Club.

The Lake Michigan Angler in Winthrop Harbor has free Salmon and Trout Trolling Techniques seminars on Saturday. March 7. Capt. Harley Goodman goes at 9 a.m.; Capt. Dan Wheeler, at 10:30 a.m. More information is at (224) 789-7627.

The Quad County Hawg Hunters’ Fishing Flea Market is at the Plano American Legion on Sunday. Information is at dlandmeier@frontier.com or (815) 286-7170.

Next week there are two different days of Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s Lake Michigan fisheries workshops. Both sessions are 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, is at Chicago Maritime Museum. Wednesday, March 11, is at North Point Marina in Winthrop Harbor.

Click here for the master list of shows, swap meets and seminars.